Lakers Set to Land ‘Wildly Polarizing’ Forward to Boost Frontcourt

The Los Angeles Lakers are projected to enter the upcoming offseason with league-leading salary cap flexibility, but free agency may not be the only path to improving the roster.

Headlined by the potential departure of LeBron James, along with several other expiring contracts, the Lakers could open up roughly $51 million in cap space, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Marks’ ESPN colleague Kevin Pelton has also identified the frontcourt as one of Los Angeles’ most pressing areas to address this summer, particularly with Deandre Ayton’s inconsistent form throughout the season.

For a franchise aiming to build a sustainable contender, the NBA Draft could offer another practical avenue to add young, affordable talent while maintaining financial flexibility.

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Lakers Linked With Houston Forward in Latest Mock Draft

The Lakers currently control their 2026 first-round pick and are projected to select towards the back end of the round.

In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report analyst Zach Buckley projected the Lakers selecting Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Through 34 games this season, Cenac is averaging 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 49.3% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range on 2.5 attempts per contest.

“If the Lakers are thinking need-filling with this pick, then they’re probably looking for a pick-and-roll partner for Luka Dončić,” Buckley wrote. “Cenac, admittedly, isn’t a perfect fit right now, but there are reasons to believe (or at least hope) he could grow into one.”

“In a perfect world, he can become a bouncy rim-runner with three-point touch sooner than later. He’ll have to up his interior activity and lessen his time on the perimeter to make that happen, though.”

On March 14 in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, the 19-year-old delivered one of his most impressive performances of the season, recording 17 points and 14 rebounds in Houston’s dominant 69-47 win over Kansas.

Although he shot 5-of-13 from the field, the freshman forward showcased his shooting range by going 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

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Chris Cenac Jr. Drawing Interest as Modern Frontcourt Prospect

Buckley’s colleague Jonathan Wasserman has also projected Cenac to the Lakers in a recent mock draft, noting that his 6-foot-11 frame and skill set resemble the profile of a productive modern NBA big.

“Assuming he continues to build on his shooting over the next few years, his archetype seems very translatable to a supporting role, being a 6’11” big who can stretch the floor and provide easy buckets and interior activity,” Wasserman wrote.

Cenac’s combination of versatility and size could appeal to a Lakers team looking to strengthen its frontcourt depth moving forward.

At just 19, he offers a blend of instant upside and developmental potential, fitting the mold of players who can grow alongside a team’s core while gradually expanding their role.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has described Cenac as a “wildly polarizing prospect,” though he noted that several scouts remain intrigued by the forward’s potential.

The Lakers are also expected to regain significant trade flexibility this summer, with three first-round picks in 2026, 2031 and 2033 projected to become available in potential deals.

Those assets could play a central role in what has been described as an “all-out pursuit” of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Whether Los Angeles ultimately packages those picks in a blockbuster trade or uses one to select an emerging prospect like Cenac, the franchise appears well positioned to reshape its roster through multiple avenues this offseason.

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans